Advice on careers/learning
Posted by Yoosle@reddit | learnprogramming | View on Reddit | 11 comments
I love programming and I have been doing it since I was a kid. I am about to go to college at a more engineering focused school although I'm majoring in computer science. I want the professors to help me out but I don't necessarily want the classes. However, while taking AP Computer Science A this year I realized there are little bits of info I missed. This may just be because I haven't gotten into low level programming yet, but I feel this pattern likely applies to most stuff I'll self learn.
I also feel that I would just pick up the things I need to learn on a job, but I'm not sure how willing companies are to hire me if I'm not a "fully developed" programmer. I am mostly wondering if relevant projects outweigh a formal education.
I'm starting to realize the importance of reading docs over watching tutorials but I feel docs wouldn't be the best way for me to learn. Is there something in between reading docs and watching tutorials?
Thanks
smichaele@reddit
I'm trying to understand this. You love programming and are going to pay for college, but you don't want to attend classes. You do, however, want help from the professors with whatever it is you want to work on. You think there are a few little things you missed in APCSA. I'm certified by the College Board, and I've taught hundreds of APCSA students. I assure you that there are many things you didn't learn in a class that is essentially a one-semester introduction to Java, as opposed to a full-fledged computer science course.
You're concerned that you haven't gotten into low-level programming yet, but you think that C would be too laborious and hard, and C++ has too many features. Your comments concern two of the most popular languages for low-level programming. In addition, you seem to think that if a language isn't object-oriented, it's pretty useless. You seem afraid of hard work.
Your thoughts are disjointed and all over the place. I assure you that no company will hire you so that you can "learn on the job." Not in today's world. I also doubt your ability to learn a language in any depth to actually be a professional using it. I'd reflect on whether a career in a field that requires continuous learning of new technologies is the right fit for you.
Yoosle@reddit (OP)
Woah, those are some big inferences. The only things I didn't know from CSA were pointers and just low-level specific things. It was the most boring class I have ever taken.
As for low-level programming, I was literally just asking for guidance on which one to start with, not complaining about how hard it is or something? I plan to learn one and I was unsure which. Not to mention, I don't know too much about either one and that is just what I have heard. The reason I think OOP is important is because I find it much easier for legibility and larger systems...in my own experience. I said C seems laborious and hard to make fun projects with, not to run an entire company or whatever.
I only really started focusing on low level languages when I ran into problems with Python's lack of enforced typing. I had been wanting to learn low level languages for a bit since I want make faster programs (since I am running into a barrier there and I am using C++ libraries in Python) to make computers less of a "black box" and I figured that would be the next right step.
By learn on the job, I mean that despite knowing how to make projects on my own, it may be hard to learn to work with a company, not that I wouldn't know the basics. Honestly I don't know too much about careers as that isn't my focus right now, its really just a side quest while I'm learning what I actually care about. Because why learn all this stuff if I can learn some practical stuff alongside it?
Yes my thoughts tend to be disjointed. I am disjointed. Also the "Not in today's world" line, what exactly are you talking about? Are you trying to be a dick and a critic to motivate me to be great? The "You seem afraid of hard work" made me laugh. Honestly you entire comment made me laugh, but people like you piss me off and there's too many of them in tech. I'm sure your comment is the slightest bit deserved, but you seemed to have let your emotions get the better of you.
smichaele@reddit
Inferences? Almost direct quotes: "I want the professors to help me out but I don't necessarily want the classes", "I feel c would be laborious and hard to make fun projects with since it doesnt have oop", and "I'm not sure how willing companies are to hire me if I'm not a 'fully developed' programmer."
Believe me, I'm not trying to motivate you to be great. I don't know you. If you don't understand that "in today's world," many junior positions are going away, and that there are tens of thousands of experienced developers looking for work and having difficulty finding it, you have another gap in your understanding of this field.
My comment was meant to point out the obvious incongruities in your post. It was meant to get you to think. The fact that you found it funny says more about you than me. I wrote that post without emotion, although you seem to have some, since it pissed you off. You can respond back, but I've already spent more time on you than it's worth. Best of luck in the future.
Yoosle@reddit (OP)
Na bro ur cooked
oVLucky5@reddit
Ngl I think whoever wants it bad enough will do whatever it takes, whether it be take classes they don’t wanna take. Gotta be willing to give to recieve
Yoosle@reddit (OP)
Also my ideas are unique and grab peoples attention.
Due-Influence0523@reddit
Honestly, a mix of building real projects, reading docs when you get stuck, and using tutorials as a starting point worked way better for me than relying on just one learning style.
Designer-Flounder948@reddit
most companies absolutely do not expect junior devs to be “fully developed,” they mostly look for problem solving ability, learning speed and whether you can build and debug real things.
Sea-Attorney2788@reddit
learn c
Yoosle@reddit (OP)
I feel c would be laborious and hard to make fun projects with since it doesnt have oop, but i've heard c++ has so many features you can get lost. Is all the extra stuff in c++ really that "in your face" or can you just ignore it until you understand it?
undead-robot@reddit
you can absolutely ignore it to the point that most c programs can be ran in c++. the frustrating part about the number of features in c++ is more about how difficult it is to coordinate consistent code among dev teams than about how it’s overwhelming imo